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Conference 7.286::pet_birds

Title:Captive Breeding for Conservation--and FUN!
Notice:INTROS 6.X / FOR SALE 13.X / Buying a Bird 900.*
Moderator:VIDEO::PULSIFER
Created:Mon Oct 10 1988
Last Modified:Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:942
Total number of notes:6016

99.0. "Red Avadadats" by CHEFS::DEAL () Fri Jan 20 1989 08:31

    Does any one understand avadadats?  They come under so many 'common'
    names, I am not sure what my bird really is.  I bought a pair several
    months ago referred to as 'Tiger' Finches.  They are small, about
    3-4 inches long, with red beaks and brown-ish with darker on the
    wings.  The male has a splotchy breast which gets clear red splashes
    occassionally.  He has always sung his little mating song but for
    the past few days has been riding the female.
    
    But he's not in eclipse plumage!!  No red spots.  Is he or is he
    not a red avadadat?  What is the difference between a fire finch,
    a strawberry, a tiger and a red?  
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99.1Here goes.. after some research....CSC32::K_WORKMANHand picked by Juan ValdezWed Jan 25 1989 19:1743
    Howdy,
    
    The Red Avadavat is also known as the Bombay Avadavat, Tiger Finch
    or Indian Strawberry Finch.  They are all one in the same.  There
    is another Avadavat known as the Green Avadavat or Green Strawberry.
    Both species of Avadavats come from India.  
    
    An excerpt from my book on finches on the Red Avadavat:
    
    Males:
    
    "While in color during spring, summer, and fall, the male has a
    rusty-red on the head, chest, abdomen, and rump.  The upperparts
    are dull brown, and white spots are sprinkled generously on the 
    wings and chest.  The beak in both sexes is red."
    
    Females:
    
    "Females and males out-of-color are very similiar.  The red fades
    into a dull and dark yellowish straw shade in all areas except the
    rump.  The white spots disappear from the chest but remain on the
    brown upperparts.  Sexes are distinguishable during this phase because
    the rump is duller, and the spots are smaller in females."
    
    I am looking at my fire finches as I type.  The male has glossy
    red on his head and chest and is dull brown towards his tail.
    He has no white spots but should have a few on his tummy according 
    to the breed.  The biggest feature is his yellow eye ring which I 
    don't believe the strawberries have.  The female is light brown 
    with just a touch of red around her head.  She doesn't have the 
    yellow eye ring.  They both have red beaks.  The female does have 
    white speckles on her tummy and sides just below her wings.  My
    fire finches are African Fire Finches.  There are several other
    breeds of Fire Finches which differ ever so slightly.  Some are
    the Bar Breasted Fire Finch, Jameson's Fire Finch, Blue Billed Fire
    Finch, Black Bellied Fire Finch and the Vinaceous Fire finch.  Some
    of the differences are the shades of red and the size of the white
    spots.
    
    I hope this helps.  
    
    Karen
    
99.2Colours et al!CHEFS::DEALThu Jan 26 1989 08:0313
    Thanks, Karen.  I think I need to see a live bird presented as an
    avadavat, the colours are difficult to envision.  However, the yellow
    eye ring is something I'll check for at home tonight.
    
    The female tried to begin a nest in a canary pan which had no felt.
     When we noticed her, we took out the nest, added a felt and, of
    course, she immediately quit.  We found a broken BLUE egg on the
    bottom of the cage and, unless it was the Gouldian, it was the
    avadavat's.  Nothing I've read gives me an egg colour for either.
    
    Bye for now,
    
    Eileen
99.3Springs NOT in the air!CSC32::K_WORKMANHand picked by Juan ValdezThu Jan 26 1989 09:1610
    At least your female is trying to nest!  In my finch flight I have
    two White Headed Nuns, two Cordon Blue's, two Grey Singing Finches
    and the Fire Finches.  NOBODY WANTS TO BUILD NESTS AND LAY EGGS.
    I'm not sure whats going on.  Everybody gets along really well and
    I'm sure that I have both sexs of each pair.  The flight is pretty
    large so I don't think overcrowding is a problem.  I'm going to
    add some more nests and perches to see if maybe is a domain problem.
    I'd love to get my Cordon's to breed!
    
    See ya!
99.4To spring, or not to spring!CHEFS::DEALFri Jan 27 1989 08:1015
    Wonder why..... My green singers raised two clutches in Sept/Oct
    and the female is at the end of another.  She is bare breasted,
    ragged and looks pitiful.  If there are no hatched chicks this weekend,
    she gets moved to her own private quarters.  It was my impression
    that Serins bred in the Fall, just like the Gouldians breed in winter
    and canaries all the time.
    
    The avadavat female DOES have yellow around her eye !!  Hope she
    continues, I like the additional colour.... and our local pet shop
    person is paying us more and more for the birds we bring him.  Fourty
    seven more years and we'll break even, if we don't add more birds!
    
    Bye for now,
    
    Eileen